Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movies

  • James Gunn Name Drops a Marvel Hero That “Almost” Made It Into ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’

    James Gunn Name Drops a Marvel Hero That “Almost” Made It Into ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’

    Production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is coming to a close and when it hits theaters just over a year from now, director James Gunn has said it will close the book on the version of the team that first came together in 2014. Given how wildly and unpredictably successful the franchise has been, however, that doesn’t mean a new collection of Cosmic heroes won’t come together to continue their good work. Over the years, Gunn has talked openly about some heroes that, for one reason or another, haven’t made the cut, which leaves the door open to them joining that new team of heroes. Adam Warlock, who will be played by Will Poulter in Vol. 3, used to top that list, along with Bug, ROM, Quasar and a handful of others rounding it out and now Gunn has added one more name to the list: Darkhawk.

    In response to a tweet encouraging Gunn to take on a Darkhawk solo project, the director casually mentioned that the character “was almost in (Guardians of the Galaxy) Vol. 2.”

    https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1517347586818162688

    The character of Darkhawk has undergone some big changes since first being introduced in 1991. Teenager Chris Powell became Darkhawk when he stumbled upon an amulet that allowed him to suit up in an incredible suit of armor. For the majority, perhaps entirety, of the first 15 years worth of appearances, Darkhawk was an Earth-based hero who joined the New Warriors and teamed-up with the West Coast Avengers, Runaways, Spider-Man and over the years. During Marvel Comics Cosmic renaissance in the late 2000s, led by writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, the character was overhauled significantly and became a major player in 2009’s War of Kings. It’s almost certainly this retconned version of the character that would be of interest to Gunn.

    With Gunn revealing the character was on the short list for an appearance in Vol. 2, the door is open to him popping up in the near future. Could he be among the heroes called to serve at the end of Vol. 3 or would a solo project be more in order. In August of 2021, writer Kyle Higgins launched a new Darkhawk series that put a new character in the familiar armor, so it is possible that Marvel was looking to get the character back in the spotlight ahead of a potential MCU appearance. With Marvel Studios now having access to all the major players of the Realm of Kings/War of Kings events and a Nova project in the works, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him enter the MCU in the near future.

  • ‘Pig’ Director Michael Sarnoski to Adapt ‘Sabrina’ Graphic Novel

    ‘Pig’ Director Michael Sarnoski to Adapt ‘Sabrina’ Graphic Novel

    Here’s an interesting surprise as it looks like Michael Sarnoski, the director of the Nicholas Cage-led film Pig, will be quite busy soon. In January, we learned that he was in talks to direct A Quiet Place spinoff. Yet, it looks like he has already set his eyes on another project, as Deadline has just reported that he is going to adapt the graphic novel, Sabrina. He’s currently set to write and direct the feature film based on Nick Drnaso‘s work with New Regency and RT Features involved.

    While I made the mistake of thinking it might be related to Sabrina Spellman, the graphic novel is about a man whose girlfriend went missing. After moving in with an old friend from the Air Force, a strange videotape finds its way online and goes viral. Sabrina’s vanishment becomes a headline and the two become the focus of conspiracy theorists going wild with theories on what really happened that day.

    Sarnoski made quite the splash with his work on Pig, which was a critical and audience darling when it was released. He even received the National Board of Review Award for Best Directorial Debut. So, it’s no wonder that people are lining up to get him to tackle their next project. We haven’t heard much on his A Quiet Place spinoff. So, we’ll see what his schedule will look like in the near future.

    Source: Deadline

  • Netflix No Longer Developing ‘Bright’ Sequel

    Netflix No Longer Developing ‘Bright’ Sequel

    We’ve long wondered what exactly happened to the sequel of Bright. The 2017 film starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton may haven’t received a lot of critical acclaims, but it was still one of Netflix’s most-streamed films at the time. Many were wondering when the sequel of the modern take on a fantasy world would end up starting production, but it seemingly kept getting dragged out. Sadly, it seems that Netflix has pulled the plug on the project.

    Will Smith has been losing one project after another due to the infamous slap during the Oscars. It turns out, however, that Bright’s cancelation has nothing to do with it. In a post by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw in relation to an article where National Geographic delayed their nature series starring Smith, he highlighted that Bright was abandoned for unrelated reasons.

    Of course, this opens up the question of why they’d pass on the project. They just released Bright: Samurai Soul last year, which was an animated spinoff of the film. Perhaps they are looking to continue the franchise through that medium, as demand and costs for Smith would otherwise blow up the production costs.

    Yet, you’d think that one of their most successful films would end up getting a sequel. Sadly, Netflix has developed this habit of swiftly canceling its projects which may have played a part in its current troubles.

    Source: Bloomberg, Twitter

  • ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Michael Waldron on the Challenges of the Multiverse and Keeping the Focus on Doctor Strange

    ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Michael Waldron on the Challenges of the Multiverse and Keeping the Focus on Doctor Strange

    Michael Waldron is the mastermind not only behind Loki but also the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, Multiverse of Madness. He’ll explore the multiverse that he unleashed, but is very aware of the true dangers of exploring this kind of storyline. It offers the endless possibility, especially if you lose focus along the way on why exactly you’re telling the story. Yet, the unique scenario also lends itself to create a unique character study.

    The danger is you can expand your scope too wide, and you can actually reduce the stakes if you don’t make it personal as you go bigger and wider. But the opportunity in the multiverse is to have characters confront literal ‘What ifs?’ and alternate versions of themselves and perhaps others in their lives. It’s an interesting way to hold up a mirror to characters

    Michael Waldron

    He highlights that this is definitely a “Doctor Strange’s story above all else,” which may help some that were getting worried after the recent statement by Bruce Campbell, where he jokingly referenced that Benedict Cumberbatch may not know if he’s even in the film, as director Sam Raimi had to adapt some elements due to story consistency.

    In every way, it shapes the emotional heart of the story. It has to. The multiverse isn’t just a MacGuffin where we’re like, ‘Okay, this is just a kitschy thing that we’re playing with in this movie.’ If you’re faced with alternate realities and with alternate versions of yourself that has to become the emotional heart, exploring who you might be if you were a different version of yourself, if you made other choices, the right choices or the wrong choices. It’s complex stuff, emotionally, and that’s exactly why it’s so thrilling and so great for a cast as dramatically talented as this one.

    Michael Waldron

    He also highlighted that he rewatched the first film multiple times to ensure that this is definitely his story even with all the multiverse shenanigans going on. It’s certainly promising to see how Strange faces the What Ifs of his Variants and how that might affect his future.

    Source: SFX

  • ‘Multiverse of Madness’, ‘Love and Thunder’ Top Fandango’s Most Anticipated List

    ‘Multiverse of Madness’, ‘Love and Thunder’ Top Fandango’s Most Anticipated List

    While Summer isn’t exactly just around the corner, the Summer movie season is and 2022 is shaping up to be quite the season. The long-awaited sequel to 1986’s Top Gun, another Jurassic Park film and the Buzz Lightyear origin story you didn’t know you needed are among the choices audiences will have this Summer, but according to a poll by Fandango, it’s a pair of Marvel Studios’ films that have audiences most excited.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 6th) and Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8th) were the top two choices in a poll that was voted on by over 6,000 moviegoers. Jurassic Park: Dominion and Top Gun: Maverick were right behind, followed by two animated films in Pixar’s Lightyear and Dreamworks’ Minions: The Rise of Gru. Elvis, Jordan Peele’s Nope, Bullet Train and Downton Abbey: A New Era rounded out the top 10, all of which should be incredibly successful at the box office.

    Even in a Summer where Tom Cruise’s return as Maverick is in the cards, it’s not surprising to see two Marvel Studios’ projects top the list. The Doctor Strange sequel’s perceived connection to the story of the wildly successful Spider-Man: No Way Home has driven advance ticket sales; meanwhile, the mystery surrounding the fourth Thor film hasn’t taken away interest. Even as critics continue to pump out think pieces about superhero fatigue, superhero films still top the list for audiences.

  • New ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Merch May Confirm Mighty Thor’s Comic-Accurate Origin

    New ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Merch May Confirm Mighty Thor’s Comic-Accurate Origin

    When it was first announced that Natalie Portman would take on the role of Mighty Thor in the Thor: Love and Thunder, it not only had many cheering but also raised some questions. Given the heavy subject matter of her storyline in the comics, it did raise the question if the Marvel Cinematic Universe would also explore her battle with cancer. It seems that a new piece of merchandise may have given us the answer to that very question.

    The Mighty Thor’s Helmet (Thor: Love and Thunder) Replica | Marvel Movie Museum

    Eagle Moss shared a replica of Mighty Thor’s helmet. While the collector’s item already stands out on its own, what caught our eye was the description included. Not only does it give us our first glimpse into her storyline and how Mjolnir is restored, but also confirms that Jane Foster is suffering from cancer in the upcoming film. The description is as follows:

    Suffering from cancer, astrophysicist and Thor’s ex-girlfriend, Jane Foster, visited New Asgard and her life was changed forever. Mysteriously, the broken pieces of Mjolnir, the hammer of the thunder god, transformed her into the Mighty Thor and gifted her the superpowers of Thor, to battle threats internal and external. Wielding Mjolnir herself, she had become a godly protector and a new hero was born!

    So, it seems they are following the comic storyline quite closely. It does make you wonder how they’ll tackle it and how it may intertwine with Thor’s story of trying to retire from superhero-ing. Perhaps their paths cross and we uncover just what may have affected the growth inside her. Given that the Aether used her as its host, they may tie that storyline back to Thor: The Dark World and Thor takes a certain responsibility for what happened to her. Perhaps the next trailer offers a few more teases of how that plot line will come together, or even if they tease who is behind the mask.

    Source: EagleMoss

  • ‘Madame Web’ Film Scheduled For 2023

    ‘Madame Web’ Film Scheduled For 2023

    Morbius is still biting his way through theaters, but Sony is already looking ahead. The studio has set an official release date for Madame Web, revealing the title character will make her live-action debut on July 7th, 2023. This puts the premiere of the movie, which reportedly takes place within Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters, a solid seven months after that of its predecessor, J.C. Chandor‘s Kraven the Hunter. It also puts the project in competition with several other highly anticipated summer blockbusters, like Mission: Impossible 7 and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which release later that same month.

    Madame Web will adapt the story of Spider-Man’s one-time comic book spiritual guide. Although it has not been confirmed which version of the character will headline the plot, it has been reported that Sony is looking to make Madame Web their world’s version of Doctor Strange. S.J. Clarkson, known for her work on television shows like Dexter and House, will direct a script from frequent Sony collaborators Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. Up-and-coming actress Sydney Sweeney recently boarded the film to star alongside Dakota Johnson. It is not known who either of the thespians are portraying, but it’s likely the studio would want such popular talents as leading faces of their franchise.

    The move to give Madame Web a release date comes at the same time Sony revealed it would be delaying it’s sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. With so many upcoming projects based on their most iconic intellectual property, it’s at least nice to have a good idea when they will all arrive in theaters.

    Source: Twitter

  • Sony Delays Release of ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ Sets Date For Sequel

    Sony Delays Release of ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ Sets Date For Sequel

    It would seem fans are going to have to wait a while longer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. It’s being reported by Jeff Sneider that Sony has delayed the release of the highly anticipated sequel by around eight months. Originally set to debut on October 7th of this year, Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) will now hit theaters on June 2nd, 2023. On the bright side, the third installment in the popular animated franchise, which will presumably be titled Across the Spider-Verse (Part Two), now has an official release date. That adventure will swing through the big screen almost a year later on Mar. 29th, 2024.

    The news is somewhat shocking, considering that the production of the next Spider-Verse film seemed to be chugging along at full speed. No reason was given for the delay, but it could be anything from strategic marketing timing to the animators simply needing a little more time. Either way, the push back is probably a good thing, giving animators more time to work on the movie as needed. Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) will see Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, and Jake Johnson return to their roles as multiversal Spider-People, only this time they’ll be joined by Oscar Isaac as Spider-Man 2099 and Issa Rae as Jessica Drew’s Spider-Woman.

    Not much is known about the plot, but the project’s first teaser revealed audiences would see Moore‘s Miles Morales dueling with Isaac‘s Miguel O’Hara. Unfortunately, the true reason for this won’t be known until the summer of 2023.

    Source: Twitter

  • Don’t Expect Johnny Depp to Ever Return to ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’

    Don’t Expect Johnny Depp to Ever Return to ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’

    Johnny Depp is currently on a trial with Amber Heard due o the allegations made against the actor years ago. It dragged down his image and led to him losing quite a few roles, which included getting replaced in the Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore and even a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film. At one point, it was rumored that Margot Robbie joined the franchise but we haven’t gotten an update on that in quite some time. He states that the film hasn’t been produced and is in “dangle mode” since he was dropped from the project by Disney.

    He went on to highlight that even though they’ve distanced themselves from the actor, it never stopped the company from using the character he played in their various merchandise and rides. In last year’s E3 event we even got the reveal of Jack Sparrow and elements from Pirates of the Carribbean being added to the popular pirate game Sea of Thieves, which he certainly had no say in considering he brought the character to life.

    They didn’t remove my character from the rides. They didn’t stop selling dolls of Captain Jack Sparrow. They didn’t stop selling anything. They just didn’t want there to be something trailing behind me that they’d find.

    Johnny Depp

    It definitely left some deep scars, especially with the general effect these allegations have had on his career. When asked if he’d return to work on a new entry if Disney offered him “$300 million and a million alpacas” he’d still refused to return to the franchise. It’s a harsh statement but an understandable one given the way how the events unfold. For now, if Disney decides to move forward with the franchise, they won’t be able to rely on Jack Sparrow to keep the boat afloat.

    Source: Variety

  • Natalie Portman Shares a New Mighty Thor Variant of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Poster

    Natalie Portman Shares a New Mighty Thor Variant of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Poster

    The first trailer gave us a tease of what Thor: Love and Thunder has in store for us with a great poster highlighting the 80s inspiration of the film. Yet, the ending gave us our first look at Natalie Portman‘s return to the franchise as Mighty Thor. Surprisingly, the first poster mainly focused on Chris Hemsworth and it seems that Portman wanted to quickly correct that, as she shared a variant of the poster with her version of the character taking the central stage.

    The best part is that it also switches up the tagline to “The One is Not the Only One” as a callout to the tagline of the original poster being “The One and Only.” It’s a fun way to tease her character, who only briefly appeared in the trailer at the end. We’re likely going to get a better look at her character and tease if Thor knows who’s behind the mask as more trailers arrive over time.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CclMIqWJAP-/

    It’s a great marketing move to wait a bit before releasing this poster, as it builds upon the reveal of her return. Surprisingly, they kept her helmet out of this poster which makes you wonder just how much she’ll wear it throughout the film. Even Thor very rarely wears a helmet, as it mostly hides his face, but perhaps he got grabbed too often by the wings and was annoyed by it holding him back. Here’s hoping that the next trailer won’t take too long to release, especially as it’s already set to premiere in July.

    Source: Instagram